New Ulm weekly review., 1887-12-14

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banation todnaiasain the price or any COM
modify 10 the stariH point furnishes proof
that some one liz willing TO accept lower.
prices for such commodity, and that such
prices are remuneHative; ana lower prices
produced by c0anpetiJion prove the same
thing. Thus where either Of these conoi. !.
MOns exist case would seem to be pre-
sented for an easV reduction of taXation. The
considerations which have been presented
touching our tariff laws are intended only to
enforce an eainesErecommendati that the
surplus revenue OF the government be: pre-
vented by the
REDUCTION OF CUR CUSTOMS DUTIES
aud ut the same time to emphasize aSsag-
gesGion that in accomplishing this purpose
Wa may discharge double duty to our peo-s
Pile by granting to them measure q reliet
from tariff taxation IN quarters where it is
pmosr needed and from sources where it. can
be- most fairly and justly accorded. Nor can
the presentation made Of such consider
.atIons he, wi h any degree OF, fairness, re-
garded as evidence of anfriendliness toward
our manufacturing interests, or of any lack
of appreciation of their value and i'm
.portance. These interests constitute alead-
ing and most substantial element of our ma
IonaL greatness and furnish the proud proof
OF our country's progress. But if in the
emergency that presses upon us Our manu-
factnrers are are asked to surrender some
thing for the public good and to tdis-
aster, their patriotism, as well as "a grateful
recognition OF: advantages already afforded,
I should lead them to willing oo-operation
No demand is made that they shall forego all
the benefits ,of the governmental regard:
& but they cannot fail to be admonished of
their duty, as well as their enlightened self
interest and safety, when they are reminded
OF the fact that fnancial panic aud collapse
to which the present condition tends, afford
no ogneater shelter or protection to our manu-
tactuzers than our oJher important enter
prlses Opportunity for safe, careful. and
deliberate reform is now offered; and none
OF ,us should be unmindful of q time when
an abused and irritated people, needless OF
those who have resisted timely and reason
able relief, may insist upon radical and
sWeeping rectffication OF their wrsngs
Tne difficulty attending wise and
falr nn1 ngdss neyls.on ef . our tariff laws is
quire on the part Of the congress great labor
and care. and especially broad and national
contemplation of the subject, and patrioric
disregard of snch local and selfish claims as
are unreasonable and regardless of the well
fare of the entire country. Under our pres
enr laws more than four thousand articles
are subject to duty. Many OF these DO not
in any way compare with our own manu-
factures. and many are hardly worth atten-
tion as subjects of revenue. A considerable
reuuctlon can pc made IN the aggregate by
ADDING THEM TO THE FREE LIST.
The toxation of luxurleS presents no feat-
uFes of hardship; but the necessaries of life
used and consumed by all people, the duty
upon which adds to the cost OF living in
every home. should be greatly cheapened
The radical reduction of the duties imposed
uuon raw material used in manufactures, or
its free importation, is, of course. an i'm
pOrtant factor in any effort to reduce the
price OF these necessaries; 1t would not only
relieve them from the increased cost caused
by the tariff on such material, but the III an
ufactnred product being thus cheapened that
part of the tarlff now laid upon such product
as compensation TO our manufacturers for
the present price of raw material could
be accordingly modified. Such reduc-
tion, or free importation, would serve
beside to largely reduce the revenue 1t is
not apparent how such change can have
any injurious effect upon our manufacturers
On the contrary it would appear to give them
q better chance in foreign markets with the
manufacturers of other countries, who
cheaper their ware with tree material Thus
our people might have the opportunity of
extending their sales beyond home con-
sumption. saving them from the depression.
interruption in business, and loss caused by
glutted domestic market, and affording their
employees more certain and steady labor,
with its resulting quiet and contentrnent
The question thus imperatively presented
for solution should be approached in
spirit higher than partisanship, and consd-
cred in the light of that regard for patriotic
duty which should characterize theIaction
OF those intrusted with the veal of a con:id-
ing people. But the obligation to declared
party policy and principle is not wanting to
urge prompt and effective action Both Of
the great poiiL cal parties now represented
in the government have, by repeated and
authoritative declarations, condemned
the condition of laws which permit
the collection from the people OF nn-
necessary revenue, and have in the most
mn
neither as citizens nor partsans are our
countrymen in mood to cOn6one the de-
Mberate violation of these pledges Our
progress toward a wise conclusion will not
be improved by dwelling upon the theories
OF protection and free trade This savors
100 much Of .bandying epithets Il is a con-
dition which confronts us, not theory.
Relief from this condition may involve a
slight reduction Of the advantages which we
award our home productions, but the entire
withdrawal OF such advantages should not
be contemplated
THE QUESTION OF FREE TRADE
is absolutely irrelevant, and the persistent
claim made in certain quarters that ali
efforts to save the people from unjust and
u necessary taxation are schemes of So
called free traders, is mischiev0us and far
removed from any cOnsld Grafton for the
public good. The simple and plain duty
which we owe the people is to reduce taxa
tion TO the necessary expensespf IN econom-
ical operation of the government, and to re-
store to the business of the country che
money which we hold in the treasury
through the peiversion of governmental
powers These Things can and should be
done with safety TO all our industries. with
ouS danger TO the opportunity for femun-
erative labor which our workingmen need
and with benefiS TO them and all our people.
by cheapening their means of subsistence
and increasing the measure OF their com
nrnvi6a3 IN
president 9shall. from time to time, give to
the congress information of the state of the
Union.a IL has been the custom of the ex
ecutive. in compliance with this provision
to annually exhibit TO the congress, at the
opening of its SESSION. the general condition
Of the country, and to detail. with some par
ticuIarity. the operations Of the dlfferen
executive departments It would be espec-
tally agreeable to follow this course at the
present time, and to call attention to the
valuable accomplishments OF these depart
ments during the last fiscal year. But I air
On n,r1n N, I, rassan VII the nara n,ount i'm